As part of the preparation for the gubernatorial election in Osun state, critical stakeholders have charged the parents and guardians to caution their wards not to be used by politicians as political thugs before, during and after the election.
The stakeholders includes the traditional rulers, political actors, religious leadership Civil Societies, Market women, security agencies, among others on Thursday, met in Osogbo to brainstorm at a summit organized by the Association Of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) on effective security Towards the Osun gubernatorial Election.
Speaking on the need to take care of security agencies as party of preparation for election, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Adeoye Fimihan (retired) said government should provide adequate welfare for security personnel before an election.
He noted that the allowing political parties to take care of security welfare during an election will not guarantee free and fair election.
Iyaloja General of Osun, Alhaja Asidemade in her own submission warn parents to guide their wards against being used as instrument of political thuggry.
She urged politicians be peaceful in their conduct as they move around with their political campaigns.
Also, Chairman of Boot Party, Adeleke Masilo Aderemi appealed to security operatives to ensure that all political parties are treated equally.
He added that governorship candidates irrespective of their party should be given a level play ground.
In his address, National President of Association Of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) Dr. Wilson Esangbeso charged other states to emulate Osun chapter of the association.
He commanded leadership of ALPSPN Osun chapter for their proactive efforts in sustaining a peaceful atmosphere for Osun during and after election.
In her keynote address, the Osun State Chairperson Chief Mrs Omobola Odebode stressed that the role of critical stakeholders including the international community in ensuring free, fair and credible election cannot be under estimated.
Odebode noted that lack of political enlightenment among others are factors leading to electoral violence.
She charged all the residents to synergise as stakeholders to ensure that the tension is normalized, urging them to address the earlier warning signals to have a peaceful gubernatorial election in the state.
According to her, “The Osun State chapter of Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners (ALPSPN) under the auspices of the Chief Executive Officers of the Private Guard Companies in the State took a far reaching decision to examine threats associated with elections in Nigeria and narrowed it down to recent occurrences in the State of Osun in the recent past.
“Our collective resolve to meet with the Heads of Security Agencies as well as critical stakeholders, including political parties, electoral umpire, Civil Society Organisations and the media among other key stakeholders in electoral process focusing on peaceful election in the State.
“The idea of the peace summit came to the front burner in order to forestall electoral violence under any guise in the state.